Nursing RN Basic Program, AS

Program Description:

The Associate in Science Degree in Nursing program is designed to prepare the student to care for the clients he/she serves. Comprised of core education courses, as well as clinical nursing courses, the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) curriculum incorporates classroom instruction, laboratory simulation, and clinical practice in the care of infants, children, and adults. Local health facilities are utilized for clinical practice, including community agencies, acute care institutions, and long-term care facilities. Graduates of the program possess the knowledge, values, and skills essential to practice in a dynamic and rapidly changing health care environment.

There are two distinct pathways to program completion: the Basic Program and the Advanced Placement Program. The Basic Program is offered in day and evening/weekend formats on the Lee campus. Charlotte and Collier campuses offer the Basic Program during the day. The Advanced Placement Program is available to students who already hold licensure as an LPN, or certification as a paramedic, registered respiratory technician (RRT), or cardiovascular technician (CVT). Both programs are designed for students who seek immediate employment as general staff nurses, as well as for those who decide to continue their nursing education by pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN).

Accreditation:

The Edison State College Associate Degree Nursing Program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin CO2, Tallahassee 32399-3252, phone (850) 488-0595. The Associate Degree Nursing Program is also fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326, phone (404) 975-5000.

Admission:

The Basic Nursing Program and the Advanced Placement Nursing Program are selective admission, limited enrollment programs. Admission to Edison State College does not imply acceptance into either Nursing Program. Following admission to the College, the student must meet all admission criteria for the Edison State nursing program he/she wants to attend before applying to that program. Each program has its own admission packet. Since there often are more qualified applicants than available spaces, meeting all admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into any of the Nursing Programs.

Final selection of accepted students is made using a point system that credits cumulative grade point average (minimum 2.75) in the General Education Prerequisite courses, number of required General Education courses completed, and standardized preadmission test score. Applicants with the highest point totals, who meet all criteria, must complete a drug screen and background check. Once the drug and background checks are cleared, the top applicants are offered admission on a space-available basis. For details regarding the admission criteria and point system, refer to the Edison State Nursing application packet and/or access the Associate Degree nursing program web pages at www.edison.edu.

Students are admitted to the Basic Day Nursing Program on the Lee or Collier campuses twice a year. Applicants are admitted to the Charlotte Basic and Lee Evening Nursing Program once per year. Admission to the Advanced Placement Program occurs on each campus annually except Lee which admits twice annually. Contact the Nursing Office on the appropriate campus for applications, deadline dates, and enrollment limits. A Pre-Nursing Basic Program Handbook is available for review on the Edison State College School of Nursing Associate in Science in Nursing Degree website. (http://www.edison.edu/academics/asnursing/nursing.php)

Under normal circumstances, transfers between campuses are prohibited. Should extenuating circumstances arise which are beyond the student’s control, transfer requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis by a committee comprised of Program Coordinators and the District Director of Nursing. All requests for transfer must include supporting documentation.

The admission and enrollment process includes completion of a health certificate and an American Heart Association CPR certificate.

Transfer Applicants:

On a space available basis, applicants who have attended another RN program in the past year may apply for admission to the Edison State College nursing programs, provided that they supply a letter of good standing from the director(s) of previous nursing program(s). The transfer applicant must meet the same admission criteria as any other nursing applicant. Students who have been academically dismissed from another nursing program are not eligible to transfer to Edison State’s Nursing Programs.

All nursing coursework taken elsewhere and at Edison State College must be completed within 3.5 years (from the first nursing course taken to graduation from Edison State College). Nursing courses older than one year will not be accepted for transfer.

Transcripts must be evaluated by both the Nursing Director and the Records Technician at Edison State’s Registration Department prior to acceptance as an Edison State transfer nursing student. In order for transcripts to be evaluated, complete syllabi from all previously taken nursing courses must accompany the application. Any transfer nursing student must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours at Edison State College in order to graduate from Edison State’s ADN program.

Academic Standards:

1. General Education Courses
   A student must earn a minimum grade of “C” or above in all general education courses required in the Nursing Program. General education courses may be taken prior to entering the nursing program and must be completed prior to beginning the last semester of nursing course work. Any course with a grade of “D” or below must be repeated.
    
2. Registration for Nursing Courses
   In order to enroll in a course with an NUR prefix, a student must be officially accepted into the Nursing Program. Any exceptions to this policy require written approval of the District Director of Nursing.
    
3. Computer Usage
   Basic computer knowledge is required to complete some assignments in nursing courses. Many nursing courses utilize web-based instruction. Instructors in those courses will provide classroom demonstrations of web-based materials.
    
4. Academic Progression
   A grade of “C” or higher (minimum passing score of 77 percent) must be achieved in each classroom-based nursing course in order to progress to the next course in the curriculum. A grade of “S” (satisfactory) must be achieved in each clinical nursing course. Since many of the courses in the curriculum have both theory and clinical components, and since each is a corequisite of the other, both must be passed successfully in the same semester in order for the student to progress to the next course in the curriculum.
    
5. Graduation Requirement
   Satisfactory completion of the 72 semester hours of approved credit with a grade of “C” or higher is required to graduate.
    
6. Licensure Requirement
   Graduates of this program are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination to become registered nurses. Fees and a physical exam are required by the Florida Board of Nursing for the Licensure Examination.

If an applicant has been convicted, had any adjudication withheld, or has any criminal charges pending other than a minor traffic violation, the applicant is advised to seek counseling from the Florida Board of Nursing regarding possible limitations toward licensure prior to applying for entrance to an Edison State College Associate Degree Nursing Program.

Nurses May Earn:

Entry level Registered Nurses (RN’s) generally earn $20.00 or more per hour or over $40,000 per year according to hospital systems in the local market.*

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 58,700 national openings per year. Consistently, 90% of Edison State graduates from this program are locally placed.*

* http://www.bls.gov

Career Opportunities for a Registered Nurse:

A Registered Nurse is in high demand throughout the United States. The Registered Nurse will find opportunities in:

• Hospitals
• Outpatient Centers
• Doctors’ Offices
• Clinics
• Research Facilities
• Nursing Homes
• Home Health Care (and many more areas)

Continuing Toward A Bachelor’s Degree?

You may want to consider going on to earn your bachelor’s degree with Edison State College. For more information, please call the Edison State Baccalaureate and University Programs Division at (239) 489-9295.